Family Fun

 We bought a fire pit!!! It has been so much fun!  The girls are loving it and so are Ryan and I!  I can see many future nights out here by this! Of course roasting marshmallows is a favorite!

 The Bartletts came over one night!  So fun!

 I had seen an easy craft for the girls to do--make a skeleton out of q-tips.  We had a family night and all made our own skeletons.  It was fun and the girls thought it was great that Ryan and I participated!  So much fun!

 Look at this face!  Do you think she's proud of her work?

I love these memories that we are making!

Pumpkin or Hello Kitty?

 Courtney had to decorate a pumpkin for her school.  When Lindsey did this project she loved it.  Lindsey's was a black cat.  So I was excited for Courtney to get to do her thing.  She's been into Hello Kitty lately so I had that thought.  It would be simple enough and she could do it.  So she did...

 First the painting

 Then she had to trace and cut the ears out...

 Another coat of paint.  All over.

The finished project!  SOOO cute!

Boss of Your Life

I know I have so much blogging to catch up on and I'm going to try and get to it today. However, this one can't wait!

Last night was one of the most special nights of my life. It is one I don't think I will ever forget. I want to remember every detail. Every feeling. Other than the time I made this decision, my husband (boyfriend at the time) made this decision and getting married, this is right there at the very top of my "best times ever" list! So here's the story. Lots of words. No pics. But very important.

The girls had all gone to bed. Lindsey usually makes up a "story" for 7 min (don't ask, I'm not sure why 7) and then goes on to sleep. Most nights, she goes to sleep, but some nights she has a hard time turning her mind off (like her mom). Last night was one of those nights. She had called me back in there and told me she couldn't go to sleep and asked me to scratch her back. I did, but I felt the urge to pray for her heart. I prayed silently for her as I rubbed her back. I prayed for her heart to be guarded from boys. From getting hurt. I prayed for the day that she would give her heart to Jesus. I kissed her and left.

She then called me back in there and said she still couldn't go to sleep. I asked her what she was thinking about. (which I do many nights when she calls me in there) Usually her answer is very vague or she won't tell me. However, last night she did. She told me she was thinking about the video they had watched at KidMo (Children's program on Wednesday nights at church). So we started talking about what was on the video. She told me that kids were talking and asking questions about Jesus and him coming into their heart. Right then I knew this was a different conversation than one we had had in the past. I could just "feel" it. So I climbed in bed with her and started asking open ended questions. Things like "Why did Jesus die on the cross? What is sin? What does forgive mean?" She answered with such a real child like faith that I knew her heart was being touched by the Holy Spirit. So I went to get Ryan.

He came in and started asking her the same questions. She asked him some of the same questions. Things like "How loud do you have to pray? How do you do it? Why do you get baptized? What do you wear when you get baptized? How old do you have to be?" All of these I'm sure have been swirling in her head because she is a processer. She thinks things over a lot before she wants to talk about it...just like her daddy!

As I listened to her talk and prayed as she and Ryan talked, I knew in my heart that she was ready to become a Christian. However, I wanted her to tell us that. We didn't want to put the words in her mouth. Ryan and I both were being so careful and sensitive to this. So Ryan told her if she wanted to pray then she could sit in her bed right now and pray. So we did. She sat up, we held hands, and she repeated what Ryan led her to pray. It.was.precious.

I want to remember...

....that Lindsey has a hard time praying outloud with us. I had only heard her pray at dinner. We prayed with her every night at bedtime, but she wouldn't ever want to be the one to pray. So I was nervous that she wouldn't say what Ryan was asking her to. However. The confidence I heard in her voice was a God thing. She didn't hesitate once. She said it with boldness. She knew what she was doing. I'm so thankful that God provided that strong voice, for Lindsey's and my own confidence in this decision.

...one of the things that I thought was such a neat thing to hear her say was "How do you know when God is talking to you? I feel it in my heart and hear it in my head but I don't really hear it. So how do you know?" WOW! This was also a point in our conversation that I KNEW she was ready. I knew she was hearing God. I knew it was time for her to be bold and give her life to Jesus.

....the smile on her face. I can still see it in my head. It brings tears to my eyes. The true joy of the Lord. She knew she had made a very important decision. She was beaming.

....the humility I felt going to bed. I had prayed that God would allow me to be part of my girls' salvation experiences. What an awesome God we serve. He graciously allowed me to be part of this miracle with Lindsey. My friend Brandi Kay told me she was praying that for her children (and neither of us had any at the time) and I remember thinking what an awesome prayer. So I have prayed that. For 7 years. Thank you Jesus for loving me enough to let me see that miracle with my child.

Ryan and I talked this morning and weren't sure what the "protocol" for church and getting baptized was. So I stopped by and talked to Mrs. Jacque Gordon. She was so sweet and so encouraging to me as a mom. She's the children's minister at our church. Because of her faithfulness, a seed was planted in my daughter's heart about making Jesus the boss of her life. She is getting ready to teach a new beginners class. Wow! I'm so thankful for a church that wants to get our kids started off on the right foot in their walk with Christ. What a challenge to Ryan and I now as parents to model what a relationship with Jesus really looks like!

Ryan and I both want Lindsey to talk to Bro. Ronnie, a lot for Lindsey's sake, to feel confident in her decision. So hopefully that can happen soon.

I can't begin to write the feelings I'm feeling now and the ones I felt last night. Such an amazing night. We are so blessed! Jeremiah 29:11 says "I know the plans I have for you says the Lord" I know he has big plans for Lindsey. I pray that she will follow Jesus every single day of her life!

Stomach Issues

 Lindsey had been having some stomach aches but not sick.  It seemed to be when she ate certain things.  It sounded a whole lot like reflux to me.  So I asked the doctor and he agreed.  She took some over the counter meds to help and then also had to go have a scan of her stomach done.  It was not a big deal, but it made me realize how thankful I need to be for my healthy girls!

She got a hospital id bracelet.  She thought that was cool.  Again...made me realize I'm glad this was our first experience with one of these.

 She had to drink some water and then eat some jello pudding.  In the pudding there was some "medicine" that would go in her stomach and we would see if it was reflux or not.

Then he taped her down because she had to lay still on her back for an hour.  Thankfully this was Lindsey and not Courtney.  Lindsey can lay still for an hour.  Courtney couldn't. :)

 There was a machine above her stomach, like an MRI (I don't know what it was).  Thankfully for that  hour she could play her iPod.  She was satisfied.  It wasn't the most fun, but we survived.

The results were normal and we were so glad.  She hasn't had any issues since and hopefully won't!

Random

 So there were these trees...and because they were so big and beautiful, no grass would grow underneath of them. This made the yard look bad and like we didn't take care of it.  So of course, my hard working husband came up with a plan to cut some down.  He "hired" Bill to come help and they got after it one day...

 Before:

 My front yard during:

 Side yard during:

 After (but before clean up):

 Lindsey had to make a pumpkin diguise.  She was given a paper pumpkin and had to decorate/dress it up.  We talked a lot about what we could do and came up with making it a cupcake!

 It turned out super cute!

M-I-C-K-E-Y Mouse Birthday Party

I had ordered the most precious dress on etsy for Whitney to wear at her Mickey Mouse party.  It was adorable.  I was so excited.  I ordered it in September.  But, there was a mix up with the girl and she was not helpful and so we didn't have a cute dress.  But...we did have cute Minnie ears and zebra pants.  So, I must say she looked cute!  (phone pic, a little blurry)

 2 of Whitney's friends--Beau and Hayden--have birthdays with in a month of hers.  So we moms decided to do a playdate birthday party.  It was a lot of fun.  Very casual, easy and laid back.  So much fun!  We did it on a Wednesday morning and had a few kids and moms over to our house.  We wanted so badly to get a pic of the birthday kiddos.  However, they were having NO part of it.

A few friends playing...

Beau, Dace, Mrs. Kim and Morgan

 Dexter playing kitchen, but one of the only pics I got of him because he had to leave.  Sweet Mischelle left the clinic, went to get Dex and came to the party on her lunch break.  It was so thoughtful and I'm so thankful that she came and brought Dex!

 Trying to blow the party favor...

 Mickey cake...I had to print and cut out that Mickey to put on it.  But, it turned out cute I think!

 Morgan, Dace, Hayden, Whitney, Beau, Dex

 Eating cupcakes...

 Sweet momma friends I couldn't live without

Sherry, Kim and Erin

Is my baby girl really 2?!  She's so sweet most of the time.  It was a fun playdate and birthday party all in one!  I'm so thankful for these sweet friends and their kiddos too!

Family Party

 Whitney loves Mickey Mouse right now.  So, we had a cookie cake with a little Mickey on it.  We had a quick family party at Mad Pizza in Rogers.  It wasn't perfect, but worked well.  Again, I'm so bad about taking pictures when there's so much going on.  All of our family came except for Taylor and Amber.  It was fun and Whit got lots of loves!

 She loves some cookie cake.  She only wanted pieces with icing on them!

 Cousin pic!  Poor Landon, he's so loved and doesn't even know it!

We are so thankful for a sweet, loving family who loves on our girls!

Happy 2nd Birthday Whitney!

 Whitney turned 2 on October 7.  I can't believe it.  We had a birthday lunch with friends at La Fiesta!  It was so much fun!

 She wasn't sure about the hat or the dessert. But the moms all thought it was great!

 Whitney got a water table and a couple of small things!  She was so excited!  Beau has the same thing!  They both love it, but play with it very differently.

 Lots of new sidewalk chalk!  She loves to color outside and this will be a great thing for her! (and her sisters)  Lots of new colors!

A new Dora movie! Of course this was a big hit!

 Cooking together is always fun!  We made a cake, but I didn't get a picture.

Happy Birthday Whitter!  We love you!

Caroline's Tea Party

 I'm so thankful that even though these girls don't see eachother that often, they are great friends!  Courtney and Caroline are 2 peas in a pod for sure!  It just worked out that Greenwood was out of school the day Caroline was having her party, so we got to go!  Courtney was so excited.  It was a princess tea party!  Look at all the Snow White princesses!

 Caroline, Courtney, (a girl I don't know)

 They got to make a crown

 Ryan even happened to be in Bentonville at a golf tournament, so he came over after he was finished!  Oh the life of a girl daddy....

 I absolutely love this picture of Caroline!

 This one too...such a face!

 There was a pinata that was lots of fun!

 Look at Cole's natural baseball form.  He is going to be a great athlete if he's anything like his mom and dad!  Watch out Bentonville Tigers!

 My BFF.  Seriously.  What would I do without her in my life.  We haven't lived close for very much of our lives since high school, but we have experienced each other's lives though our phones!  I'm so thankful for her!  She will forever be part of my life.  I'm so blessed to have a friend like Martha!  We are going on a 20 year friendship that has had its ups and downs but thankfully mostly ups! (we won't talk about 7th grade or when she first started dating Willie....)

 These 2...Lindsey and Cole are great friends.  They took their iPods outside and were playing on them.  Went down and sat on the rocks.  It was so cute!  I don't know if they are more like brother and sister or will date one day.  But either way, I'm thankful they are friends!

We are thankful for the Cowgurs and their friendships!  It is such a blessing!

Happy Birthday Caroline!